Media watch: In praise of CWG
Commonwealth Games
It was pleasing to note that the crowd gave the Pakistani contingent a warm welcome on Sunday night. Yet Pakistan’s participation was not without controversy, as there was disagreement about who would carry the national flag at the opening ceremony. Shujauddin Malik, a gold medallist weightlifter, was supposed to do the job but the head of the contingent, who is also Sindh’s sports minister, decided to carry the flag himself. (dawn.com)
CWG and our expectations
It is not certain how we will fare in our traditionally strong sports of hockey and squash. We have more talent in these disciplines than can be dreamed of, but a sheer lack of decent management on the part of the respective boards has relegated us to the periphery of these sports. A lot of hopes for a medal will ride on the shoulders of Aisam-ul-Haq. (dailytimes.com.pk)
Grand Beginning
There were hiccups in the run-up to the Games. But if the opening ceremony is any indication, the challenges appear to have been surmounted and the Games look slated to go off smoothly. As many of the visiting foreign athletes and dignitaries have affirmed, the facilities provided are world-class. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Much more than Commonwealth Games needed for lasting national prestige
Despite the colourful display of India's arts and culture at the grand opening ceremony, the frantic last minute interventions —including enlisting the Army (who did a remarkable job) to help with the final preparations — reveal the gross inefficiencies of India's public sector management systems. More to the point, it has exposed globally the weak public sector, paralysed by unacceptable corruption practices - Nandini Oomman. (hindu.com)
On the right track & field
Talking about how great an economic power we are and how ‘world-class’ we’ve become isn’t what hosting an international sporting event is all about. Doordarshan commentators went one step further by embarrassingly pointing out (when an African contingent was marching past) that the country was “one of the least developed nations in the world”. But such lack of tact was amicably made up by the grand display put on by hundreds of performers. (hindustantimes.com)
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